Rounds, Tester Announce Move to Overturn Biden Administration Decision Allowing Beef Imports from Paraguay

WASHINGTON – As part of their continued efforts to support American producers and consumers, U.S. Senators Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.) announced that they will file a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would overturn the Biden administration’s decision to allow beef imports from Paraguay.

“The Biden administration’s decision to allow beef imports from a country with a history of foot and mouth disease is a mistake that impacts South Dakota producers and consumers,” said Rounds. “Our producers work tirelessly to produce the safest, highest quality and most affordable beef in the world. Our consumers should be able to confidently feed their families beef that has met the rigorous standards required in the United States. I am proud to partner with Senator Tester to overturn this Biden administration rule that would allow beef imports from Paraguay.”

“The Biden Administration has this one backwards – resuming beef imports from a country with a recent history of foot and mouth disease is bad news for both Montana consumers and producers,” said Tester. “Montana ranchers work hard to produce the best quality beef in the world, and it’s clear that the USDA doesn’t have the data to show that Paraguay meets the same animal health standards. I’m willing to take this fight to the Senate floor because it’s clear that bureaucrats in Washington are endangering our food supply while giving a raw deal to American ranchers and consumers.”

Earlier this month, Rounds and Tester introduced bipartisan legislation to suspend beef imports from Paraguay in response to animal health concerns. The senators have called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to collect more up-to-date data before resuming beef imports from a country like Paraguay with a recent history of foot and mouth disease. Paraguay last reported cases of foot and mouth disease in 2012. The USDA’s decision to resume Paraguayan imports relies on an analysis completed in 2018, and American inspectors have not conducted a site visit to Paraguay since 2014.

In addition to suspending beef imports from Paraguay, the bill would also require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by Paraguayan beef.

The bipartisan legislation is supported by R-CALF USA, United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA) and National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

Rounds and Tester have led the charge to support American family farmers and ranchers. In February, the senators also introduced bipartisan legislation to suspend Brazilian beef imports to the United States until experts can conduct a systemic review of the commodity’s impact on food safety and animal health.

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South Dakota Congressman Dusty Johnson is one of 28 individuals being featured by  The Hill website for his influence and ability to act as a positive agent of change in our nation’s capital this year.  In the article noting his influence in helping to bring people together in Washington,  especially in the House GOP Caucus, as The Hill points out:

Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.) has found himself at the center of nearly every battle in the House GOP conference this year, working to unify the fractious group and shift the narrative that the current class of House Republicans is ungovernable.

Johnson — as chair of the pragmatic Main Street Caucus — played a role in January’s Speaker fight, the push to raise the debt limit in May, and the race to fund the government in September.

and..

“I think when we’re focusing on what divides us, the House Republicans are not very effective. And so, I try to be somebody who can bridge the gap, try to make people focus on what’s achievable and where do we agree,” Johnson told The Hill in an interview. “And to the extent that we’ve had successes, you know, whether it’s been on border security, public safety, energy, spending, I think it has come because Republicans have figured out a way to work together.”

Read the entire article here.

A nice honor for one of South Dakota’s true political leaders.

Amber Hulse Announces Her Campaign For Senate District 30

According to a press release issued today, lifelong conservative activist, Amber Hulse announced her candidacy for State Senate in the 30th District, which encompasses Custer, Fall River, and parts of Pennington County. Hulse is committed to delivering results for the community and will work hard to ensure that residents of the Black Hills have a voice in Pierre

Upon announcing her campaign, Amber Hulse said, “I have made the choice to run for the Senate because I saw a need in my community that called me to public service. In Pierre, I will always put your needs and the needs of our state and community first. We deserve fresh leadership, and I keep thinking back to my personal motto ‘if not me, then who?’ Exemplary leadership starts with leaders who will put in the work for our community and deliver a conservative agenda. The Black Hills deserve a fresh voice in Pierre, and I look forward to being that voice.”

Hulse is a graduate of the University of South Dakota, graduates from Georgetown Law in 2024 and has served as a law clerk for Governor Kristi Noem and U.S. Senator Hawley on the Senate Judiciary Committee. She was also an intern in the White House for the Trump Administration and has served other elected officials including Secretary of State Shantel Krebs, U.S. Senator Thune, Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, and U.S. Senator Lummis of Wyoming.

According to her website, Hulse is focusing her campaign on 4 major points, that she’s Pro-American, and among her policies includes “ensuring foreign nations cannot buy South Dakota farmland. “ Hulse notes she supports education, and plans to tackle “post-COVID learning loss recovery, literacy education, and school attendance should be a priority, as well as championing parents as crucial partners, supporting their involvement in their children’s education.”  Hulse also notes her support for veterans, as well as wildlife, land management and conservation among issues she’s concerned about on her campaign page.

Hulse will likely face controversial District 30 State Senator Julie Frye-Mueller in the primary election. Frye-Mueller was removed from the Republican Senate Caucus after her censure over her harassment of a legislative employee involving the employee’s newborn child and the Senator questioning the employee over vaccinations and breast-feeding practices. Frye-Mueller was also stripped of committee assignments by Senate Leadership.

The Primary Election will be held on June 4, 2024. You can find out more and donate to her campaign at http://amberforsouthdakota.com/

District 17 Senator Sydney Davis Announces Re-Election Bid

BURBANK, SD — Senator Sydney Davis announced her intent to seek re-election to continue representing District 17 in the South Dakota State Senate.

“The decisions we make in Pierre have such a wide impact on everyone in the state. They can change people’s lives. I have found that to be humbling and honored to be a part of the process. I value the trust my friends and neighbors have placed in me, allowing me to represent them in the legislature,” said Davis.

Davis grew up in rural South Dakota and is a 4th generation cattle producer. A commitment to help others and give back to her rural community led to a career in health care. As a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist, she has served communities in the Southeastern corner of South Dakota and the tri-state area.

Davis’s professional and personal experiences provide District 17 with a champion for rural communities. During her legislative service, Davis has established herself as an essential voice for advancing opportunities for healthcare and rural economic development. In three years, Davis has 11 bills on which she was the prime sponsor and 58 bills she co-sponsored signed into law. She serves as the Vice-Chair of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. Other committee assignments include Senate Education and Senate State Affairs. Davis has focused on providing support and enhanced opportunities for healthcare providers in small communities, including paramedics, dental practitioners, and adult day services. This allows people to receive assistance closer to home.

During the 2023 session, Davis’ successful efforts also included providing grant opportunities for mental health and suicide prevention programs, revising the criminal code to support efforts to combat the fentanyl overdose crisis, and enhancing protections for ag producers from nuisance claims.”

“Some of the things that I’m most proud of is that a lot of the bills and ideas that I brought to Pierre have originated from my friends and neighbors back home, which means a lot to me. That’s how our process should work,” said Davis. “Our main job as a government is to take care of those that can’t take care of themselves to ensure public health and safety, and also to make sure that we’re setting up a fiscally responsible future for our kids and grandkids.”

As a working mother of two children, Davis has also advocated for quality daycare and educational opportunities for children and supported efforts to invest in teachers and the education system. Educated in South Dakota, Davis has supported additional scholarship opportunities to make post-secondary education affordable for the state’s students.

Davis completed her bachelor of science degree at South Dakota State University and her master of science degree at Mount Marty College. Davis and her husband reside with their two children in Clay County, continuing their family tradition as ag producers.

 

Gov. Noem Proclaims “Shine a Light, Breaking Bread Week” to Honor Israel and the Jewish People

PIERRE, S.D. – Today, Governor Kristi Noem proclaimed the week of December 11, 2023, as “Shine a Light, Breaking Bread Week.” This week honors the State of Israel and South Dakota’s friendship with the Jewish people. You can read the full proclamation here.

“South Dakota has a long history of being allied with the State of Israel and the Jewish people,” wrote Governor Noem in her proclamation. “Since the October 7 attack on unarmed civilians in Israel, antisemitic incidents have increased here in the U.S.”

The State of South Dakota has long stood with the State of Israel. In 2020, Governor Noem issued an Executive Order to prohibit South Dakota Executive Branch Agencies from contracting with entities boycotting Israel. Governor Noem also declared the week of November 28, 2021, “Antisemitism Awareness Week” and proclaimed February 24, 2022, “Israel Relations Day.”

“’Breaking Bread’ embodies the essence of sharing culture, finding common ground, building community, and preserving traditions,” continued Governor Noem. “South Dakota remains committed to ensuring all people feel safe to share culture, discuss their beliefs openly in their communities, and are welcomed in our state.”

This week – the week of December 11, 2023 – is “Shine a Light, Breaking Bread Week.”

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It seems as if some legislators don’t have enough to do.

Bringing back an issue that few cared about the last time it was rehashed, State Senator Reynold Nesiba is noting he wants to create a commission to create a new design for South Dakota’s State Flag, because 2 or 3 people don’t care for it:

Sen. Reynold Nesiba, D-Sioux Falls, was inspired by Schultz’s suggestion and is considering introducing legislation in January. The bill is still being drafted, but would likely create a commission made up of legislators, governor-appointed members, tribal leaders and South Dakotans with expertise in history, art and tourism to help pick the new flag.

and..

“The South Dakota flag is an objective failure in every use: People aren’t using it to show how proud they are of South Dakota. Non-South Dakotans couldn’t pick it out of a group of other state flags from a distance,” Green said. “So redesign it. You have nothing to lose, but you have everything to gain.”

and..

Flags don’t have to follow the “good flag, bad flag” rules, said Scot Guenter, a professor of American studies at San Jose State University and an academic vexillologist — though he does consider them practical guidelines.

What matters is not just that the flag is “pretty” but that the flag is meaningful and connected to the group identity of the people the flag represents.

Read the entire story here.

If Nesiba wants to remove God and Mount Rushmore from the State Flag, that’s his own business. He can fly whatever flags he wants, but it doesn’t mean that the rest of us have an interest in it.

Hopefully that albatross of an idea will quickly be sent to the 41st day in the South Dakota Legislature, to be ignored for another decade before another Democrat brings it up again.

Here’s an interesting note. Recall the incident with the Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson, where on Monday December 5th, she was attacking the vendor for the county’s election equipment, claiming she wasn’t adequately trained, and was sharing the meeting with a special interest group which she’s affiliated with, and hiring at least one employee from…

Minnehaha County Auditor Leah Anderson had a contentious meeting Monday with the vendors of the county’s election software, in which she claimed the company wasn’t properly training her on the equipment, repeatedly criticized South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson and revealed near the end of the meeting that a group of at least two dozen of Anderson’s supporters had been listening in to the hour-long call — unbeknownst to the rest of the participants.

and..

Anderson was joined by Mike Mathis, an elections coordinator for the county who has been involved with South Dakota Canvassing Group, an election security group that has called for banning machines and electronics from the voting process, as well as preventing mail-in voting and ballot harvesting. Mathis said at an Aug. 2, 2022 meeting of the Minnehaha County Commission that he had “no confidence” in the state’s elections.

Read that all here.

Well, very curiously, the very next day Anderson was in front of the Minnehaha County Commission requesting a 14.5% salary increase, claiming that she’s been “performing well in her position.”

ELECTED DEPARTMENT HEAD SALARY

Carey Deaver, Human Resources Director, gave a briefing on elected officials salary history and requested direction from the Commission for future action to be taken on December 19, 2023. An elected official salary history, a comparison of department head salaries and an elected official market summary and assistant department head salary were provided. Further discussion will be held during the December 19, 2023, meeting. Auditor Anderson addressed the Commission about the salary for the Auditor. Public comment was received from, Larry Fossum, Cindy Meyer, and Gary Meyer.

Read that here.  And you can watch it here, starting at about 44:25.

Performing well? No shame on the Auditor Leah Anderson’s part, is there?

It is noteworthy that the County Commission does have the power of the purse to rein in the auditor from her election conspiracy ways.

Maybe instead of increasing her salary, they need to reduce it to the value they’re receiving? Because it sure seems like she’s more concerned with serving the needs of the SD Canvassing Group than she is with the taxpayers.

Let them pay her, since they seem to be getting the most value from her serving in that office.

South Dakota Must Strengthen DUI Laws in Wake of Rising Incidents with SAFE ROADS Act
by State Rep. Mary Fitzgerald
District 31, Lawrence County, SD

Drunk driving continues to be a dangerous problem in South Dakota. Data collected from 2021 shows that 5,654 people were arrested in South Dakota for DUI, this was an increase of 12.7% from 2020. The data also showed that twenty four percent of intoxicated drivers were repeat offenders. It’s clear the threat to public safety is both real and growing.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) conducted a study by gathering information from states regarding repeat DUI offenders. It showed that one out of eight drunk drivers involved in fatality related crashes had been arrested for drunk driving within the last three years.

In January 2024, I’ll introduce a bill before the South Dakota State legislature to eliminate “presumptive probation” for a third offense felony DUI. Right now, offenders will receive a presumption of probation for this crime. This puts our families at risk when we travel on our roads and highways.

My bill further addresses an inconsistency with our DUI laws. As it stands, the law requires a mandatory two-year prison sentence for a fourth DUI offense, yet a conflicting statute (SDCL 22-6-11) allows for “presumptive probation” for the same crime. My intention is to correct this error by adding that a fourth offense DUI to the list of crimes that are not eligible for presumptive probation; that was the original intent of the law.

Our government’s duty to safeguard its citizens is paramount… and this includes the prevention of avoidable tragedies on our roads and highways. It’s the core obligation of government to protect its citizens and this responsibility includes the prevention of repeat drunk driving crimes.

Rep. Will Mortenson Seeks Re-Election to District 24 House of Representatives

FORT PIERRE, SD – Republican Rep. Will Mortenson announced his intention to run for re-election to the state House of Representatives in District 24, which covers central South Dakota.

“For the last three years, I brought a common sense, conservative approach to the Legislature,” said Mortenson. “I have worked hard, been willing to take firm stands, and always kept my focus on improving South Dakota for generations to come.”

During his time in the legislature, Mortenson has been a recognized leader in supporting education, cutting taxes, and fighting for ag producers and landowners. In his second term, Mortenson was elected by his colleagues to serve as Majority Leader of the Republicans in the House of Representatives.

“South Dakota still works,” noted Mortenson. “While other states have gone off the rails, South Dakota has stayed steady. If you send me back to the Capitol, I’ll work every day to keep our state on track.”

Mortenson, 35, is an ag business and estate planning attorney in Fort Pierre. He is active in the a cow- calf operation in northwestern Stanley County. Mortenson is an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe and a lifelong resident of central South Dakota. He and his wife, Shuree, live in Fort Pierre with their two children: Augie and Jules.

Mortenson plans to preview the 2024 legislative session and announce his re-election bid at a campaign kick-off event on Thursday, December 14 from 5 – 7 PM at the St. Charles on Capitol Avenue in Pierre. All interested voters are welcome.

District 24 includes Haakon, Hughes, Hyde, Stanley, and Sully counties. District 24 is also represented in the House of Representatives by Rep. Mike Weisgram (R-Fort Pierre) and in the Senate by Sen. Jim Mehlhaff (R-Pierre)

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Is it time for Minnehaha county to combine a couple of county offices? Because I’m not sure there’s another mechanism for them to get rid of their crackpot of a county auditor, Leah Anderson.

As the Argus Leader is reporting, not only is Anderson hiring members of an election conspiracy group and putting them in charge of her elections, she’s hosting the same special interest group as part of her meetings with equipment vendors.

Mathis then asked if a “highly respected” person from South Dakota would be able to be present and perform their own inspection, though he did not name who that person would be. In an interview, Anderson said she knew the person’s identity but would not share it, as she had not spoken further with ES&S about the process.

and..

Mathis continued that they’d want the individual to look for modems and do an inspection of the machine.

“Both Leah and I’s reputation is totally on the line. What if it comes out years down the road that there were modems in these machines, and we never — all your studies are great. The people want somebody that they know and trust to do a study. And I do too!”

and..

And so I just want to let you know that especially Monae, you also work for the people, and you haven’t been very supportive of the people.”

At this point, Anderson rotated a nearby laptop, revealing a group of two dozen people, including Weible, who had been listening in on the call from another location, and later gave Anderson a round of applause after the call had ended.

Read the story here.

A ‘secret’ election expert? While she’s broadcasting the meeting to the special interest group she appears to be doing the bidding of? Good lord.

The Secretary of State has certainly made some unforced errors over the course of the last year, but not kowtowing to the demands of election conspiracy groups is not one of them. Especially when they have taken control of the election office in the largest county in the state.

The Minnehaha County Commission needs to do something pretty quick, because looks like their election office is heading for a crash.